Five other times animals were dumped onto Delaware roads

There were 1,864 traffic crashes that involved a tractor-trailer on Delaware roads in 2016, according to the Delaware State Police.

Given our long agricultural history, some of them were bound to involve animals. Such was the case Thursday when a tractor-trailer heading south on Del. 1 near the Dover toll plaza caught fire while carrying a load of live chickens.

And watch out for animals traveling to or from Harrington over the next week as plenty of them will be heading to the Delaware State Fair, if they're not there already.

Blowout, then a dash for freedom

In December of 2014, Del. 1 north of Smyrna had to be closed down when a 2006 Freightliner tractor-trailer loaded with live chickens blew out a tire, which sparked a fire.

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A tractor trailer carrying cattle crashed at about 9:30 p.m. after rounding the cloverleaf ramp from Del. 141 to I-295. Fifteen cows had to be unloaded before the vehicle could be uprighted. 10/25/16
John J. Jankowski & Damian Giletto

Improperly loaded cows

A truck carrying more than a dozen cows and steers flipped on a Monday evening in October 2016, on the ramp from Del. 141 southbound to I-295 northbound.

There were 15 cows in the truck, three of which were killed.

Police say the cows were improperly loaded.

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Beekeepers view damage after a truck rollover released millions of bees south of Newark on May 20, 2014. A judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit related to the clean up.(Photo: SUCHAT PEDERSON/THE NEWS JOURNAL, SUCHAT PEDERSON/THE NEWS JOURNAL)

Bees don't like car crashes, either

In May 2014, for the first time in 14 years, the state police had to activate its "Bee Swarm Removal Plan." A big rig hauling an estimated 20 million bees from Florida to Maine crashed on the ramp from northbound Del. 896 to northbound I-95 in Newark.

Paul Dill, a beekeeper, told CBS Philadelphia: "They've been traumatized. They can get a little irritable."

The state police's "Bee Swarm Removal Plan" involves rounding up local beekeepers and fire crews, who strategically disperse the swarms. Once that's done, the tractor-trailer can be turned upright.

The only reported injuries were the 55-year-old driver and two passengers, aged 24 and 25, who suffered only minor injuries in the crash itself but were stung 50 to 100 times each by the bees. They were transported to the hospital in stable condition.